Floater's regional success was noticed by Elemental Records, who put out their first full-length record, "Sink" in 1994. That same year Floater began a string of sold out shows at the Community Center for the Performing Arts (The WOW Hall) that is still unbroken to this day.
In 1995 Floater released "Glyph" and toured the country for the next two years supporting the record. The single, "Danny Boy" received heavy college and commercial radio play, in many cities outselling major label releases. Floater received nominations to the preliminary level of the Grammy's from NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) in 1995 under Best Rock Performance for "Sink" and in 1996 under Best Alternative Performance for "Glyph." (Prelims are determined by nominations from the NARAS members).
In 1998, following their move to Portland, Oregon (where the band currently resides), Floater released their third full-length record, "Angels in the Flesh and Devils in the Bone." The second concept album by the band ("Sink" was the first), "Angel's" brought a new vibe to Floater. It wasn't long before widespread audiences came to embrace what has now become the band's trademark - their versatility.
September of 2000 brought the release of Floater's fourth full- length record, "Burning Sosobra"; a musical collection that explores the band's broad range of song writing. Following its release, the band began to perform live acoustically. Both the band and the fans enjoyed this new avenue of performance that allowed the "quieter" side of Floater to emerge and be explored. Of late, the band has begun playing shows where acoustic Floater opens for electric Floater - giving a sort of Jekyll and Hyde feel to their performances.
In 2002 Floater released their most critically acclaimed record to date, "Alter." Combining the bands strongest musical elements, "Alter" moves fluidly from heavy riffs to lullabies and tells flowing stories of fear, love and above all change.
August of 2004 - The release of the band's acoustic record, "Acoustics." Fans of Floater's electric shows responded with enthusiasm to the band's occasional acoustic performance - with their record label's encouragement, the band put together a uniquely recorded album - one that mimics the sound of their actual performances. Recorded in a studio built in the ballroom of their producers house, the record was made without digital editing and has a fresh, live feeling.
Floater is also the name of a late nineties indiepop band from Sheffield, UK. They briefly rename themselves Floater UK before later reforming as Dangerlust.
Albatross
Floater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And witless, his body meets the ground.
And like him I find peace,
Like him I get release,
As the bastard son of all that's turned out wrong.
Well, you've got a lot to tease me about,
well, I'm just lucky, I guess.
Well, take it from me I've been blessed.
And I've seen the desolation all their attention brings.
And I learned my lesson at the back of the classroom.
If your voice is a loud one, try not to say anything.
So won't you please be gentle with this one, He's meek and he's meek and he's mild, messianic child. Can't you see he's hopelessly bold, he's bought and he's sold, And there's more than he's told.
And when everything turns out wrong, He knows it'll be alright. I'm the bastard son of all that's wrong.
And I've seen the desolation all their attention brings.
And I learned my lesson at the back of the classroom.
If your voice is a loud one, you'll never stop screaming.
Well there's been so many days you have shouted it down to them, Searching the ground for a good place to land again. And you've been drifing in the meantime, Aching in the meantime. You know we albatross are made to fly not land... You know we albatross are made to fly not land... You know we albatross are made to fly not land... And you'll never stop screaming.
The song "Albatross" by Floater depicts the story of an albatross who falls from the sky and dies upon hitting the ground. The singer relates to the bird's fate and finds peace and release in his own demise, as he considers himself the "bastard son of all that's turned out wrong." He reflects on the desolation and attention that comes with being louder and more outspoken than others, cautioning that it may lead to pain and disappointment in the end. The singer begs to be treated gently as he is meek and mild but bold and knows that he has more to offer than what people see on the surface.
The lyrics may be interpreted as a commentary on the human condition and the pressure to conform to society's expectations. The albatross serves as a metaphor for those who are different and struggle to find acceptance. The singer's acceptance of his own death reflects the desire to escape the constraints of society and find peace in one's own identity. The cautionary tale about the consequences of being too loud may serve as a warning against the negative effects of fame and attention, particularly for those who feel like outsiders.
Overall, "Albatross" is a mournful and contemplative tune that grapples with themes of identity, conformity, and the search for meaning. The singer's identification with the albatross adds a layer of symbolism that invites interpretation and introspection. The song reminds us of the fragility of life, the consequences of our choices, and the importance of staying true to ourselves even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Slowly, the albatross comes down.
The singer is comparing themselves to an albatross, slowly coming down to their demise.
And witless, his body meets the ground.
The albatross falls without any awareness or control, similar to the singer's situation.
And like him I find peace,
The singer may find peace in the idea of their demise, similar to the albatross.
Like him I get release,
The artist may feel released from their struggles when they meet their end, like the albatross.
As the bastard son of all that's turned out wrong.
The artist sees themselves as a failure or disappointment in life, blaming their circumstances.
Well, you've got a lot to tease me about, well, I'm just lucky, I guess.
The singer feels insecure and targets of mockery, but also acknowledges that they may be lucky in certain aspects of life.
Ain't nobody talkin' bout the clothes I've been wearin', Well, take it from me I've been blessed.
The singer feels fortunate for things that others may overlook, such as their clothing and other blessings in life.
And I've seen the desolation all their attention brings.
The artist has experienced the negative effects of being in the spotlight and having attention drawn to them.
And I learned my lesson at the back of the classroom.
The artist learned from past experiences, possibly involving being punished or ignored in school.
If your voice is a loud one, try not to say anything.
The artist advises against speaking up if one's voice is loud, due to negative attention it can bring.
So won't you please be gentle with this one, He's meek and he's meek and he's mild, messianic child.
The singer asks for kindness towards themselves, describing themselves as meek yet messianic.
Can't you see he's hopelessly bold, he's bought and he's sold, And there's more than he's told.
The artist suggests that there are hidden aspects to their personality, and they may feel trapped and powerless in their situation.
And when everything turns out wrong, He knows it'll be alright. I'm the bastard son of all that's wrong.
The singer seems to have accepted their circumstances and is prepared for the worst outcomes.
Well there's been so many days you have shouted it down to them, Searching the ground for a good place to land again.
The singer may have struggled to find a place to belong, and feels misunderstood by those around them.
And you've been drifing in the meantime, Aching in the meantime.
The singer has been struggling and feeling pain while they wait for a solution to their issues.
You know we albatross are made to fly not land... You know we albatross are made to fly not land... You know we albatross are made to fly not land... And you'll never stop screaming.
The repeated phrase emphasizes the idea that the artist feels they were meant to succeed and soar in life, not fail and suffer. They may continue to express their pain and frustration in their situation, but will not give up.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
gavinator
As a Jr. In highschool during covid, I feel this song is more relative than it has ever been. Don't forget the youth!
Tomas christopher Bangalter
i listened to this when i was in highschool and that was 20 3 years ago
Dustin Gray
another great floater song
charles bucket
looooooooooove this song
shug
<3
Sarah David
This is always played when i smoke 🤙
Gooby plz
Yes.